‘The Raisina Dialogue’ – India’s foremost foreign policy conference proved to be a huge success when it comes to brain-storming on a wide range of pressing geo-political and geo-economic issues confronting the global community. It provoked thoughts, ignited passion and helped thought leaders reach holistic, innovative and inclusive decision makings. Emerging as one of the top global events, it showed the world how ideas should be swelled and shaped, where India very assertively put forth its guiding principle of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ which strengthens its innate globalism.
Hosted from April 25 to April 27 in New Delhi, more than 290 thought leaders from 90 counties participated in this mega event organised every year for last seven years. Unlike last year, it was in person this year, attended by people from international and national politics, business, media, academia, education and civil society, converging to discuss and deliberate contemporary issues ranging from democracy to technology to global health and securities that have prospects to impact the global community.
Leaders also explored opportunities for close cooperation of all sorts and inked pacts of international significance, like- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to institute the EU-India Trade and Technology Council- a novel step towards strengthening economic and technological ties between India and EU. This initiative is meant to tackle key trade, economic and technological challenges. The EU and India will now be working on several new fronts also. Both sides also launched negotiations on a free trade agreement as well as on investment protection and geographical indications. Similarly, several other negotiations were also made to benefit two or more sides.
European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen graced the occasion as the chief guest of the event. A number of European foreign ministers, diplomats and foreign affairs experts were also in attendance, putting Indo-European ties on the top of the list of the priorities. The conference, to a certain extent, revolved around the measures tipped to strengthen relations between India and EU as both sides discussed expanding trade, investments and other issues of importance.
Leaders from across the globe hugely admired Indian democratic practices and processes with European Commission president saying –‘Every five years, when Indians are casting their vote in Parliamentary elections, the world watches with admiration as the world’s largest democracy charts its future path, because the outcomes of decisions made by 1.3 billion people resonates around the globe.’
Hosted by one of the top think tanks of the country- ‘The Observer Research Foundation’ in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the event was also sufficiently supported by a number of intellectual institutions, organisations and individuals, who are committed to the mission of bringing in positive and constructive changes to the larger global society.
The Raisina Dialogue 2022 had been modeled along six thematic pillars- ‘Rethinking Democracy: Trade, Tech and Ideology’, ‘End of Multilateralism: A Networked Global Order?’, ‘Water Caucuses: Turbulent Tides in the Indo-Pacific’, ‘Communities Inc: First Responders to Health, Development, & Planet’, ‘Achieving Green Transitions: Common Imperative, Diverging Realities’ and ‘Samson vs Goliath: The Persistent and Relentless Tech Wars’.
Event involved multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral discussion that included heads of state, cabinet ministers, former ministers, former Prime Ministers and former Presidents, senior government officials, academicians, students, journalists, politicians, researchers, businessmen and scholars. Majority were thought to be either interested in or working on international relations, global securities, Indian foreign policy and other related and relevant issues.
It was an occasion when India put forth its views very effectively and assertively before the global community and intelligentsia. Amidst the pressure being mounted by the western nations for New Delhi to toe the line of Europe and other western forces in sanctioning Moscow, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar said- we don’t behave as a ‘pale imitator’ of other nations, and are also not bound by the approvals of other quarters or forces, unleashing a new picture of New India to the world.
The External Affairs Minister was speaking at the special session, Chasing the Monsoon: Life @75 at Raisina Dialogue. For the session he was joined in by the esteemed guest comprising, Australian Senate Penny Wong, Portugal Foreign Minister Joao Cravinho, Former Canadian PM Stephen Harper, Research Fellow Jeff M. Smith and Velina Tchakarova. “We have to be confident about who we are. I think it is better to engage the world on the basis of who we are rather than try and please the world as a pale imitation of what they are,” Dr. S Jaishankar said.
Reiterating India’s stand on Russia-Ukraine conflict, the External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said that India’s position on the conflict in Ukraine has been very clear. “A position which emphasises urgent cessation of fighting and urges return to dialogue and diplomacy.” He further added that, India’s position also stresses the need to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.”
In this very event, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said that India’s vision would continue to be shaped by its developmental priorities at home as it moves towards assuming greater regional and global responsibilities. Addressing the session on- ‘India at 75: New Approaches for Foreign Policy’, Muraleedharan said that while most nations are increasingly turning inwards, India’s guiding principle of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ has only strengthened its innate globalism, adding the Indian diaspora’s interests, welfare and social capital are factored in while framing foreign policy.
The Raisina Dialogue is on the lines of the Shangri-La Dialogue held on regular interval in Singapore and takes its name from the Raisina Hills, often used as a metonym for the seat of the Government of India, housing country’s most important government buildings including Rashtrapati Bhavan and the secretariat building housing the Prime Minister’s Office and several other important ministries. Raisina Hills are also surrounded by the Parliament of India, Rajpath and India Gate.
Inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the event had dozens of sessions along with the side events hosted in Washington and Berlin. Raisina young fellows programme was also conducted on the sidelines of this main conference. Last year, owing to Covid-19 pandemic, the dialogue was held virtually, but this seventh edition of the conference is being held in-person format.
